Automatic music-sheet tracker.



L. H. MMER.

AUTOMATIC MUSIC sum TRACKER.

APPLICATON FILED OCT. 20, 911. 1,183,218. Patented May 16, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Q woe Mm L. H. MAKER.

AUTOMATIC MUSIC SHEET TRACKER. APPLICATION mco- OCT. 20.1911.

1,183,218. Patented May 16, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. H. MMER.

AUTOMATIC MUSIC SHEET TRACKER. APPUCATION men 001.20, 1911.

Patented May16,1916.

V plurality of parts that will be more NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS H. MAIER, OF NEW YOBK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC MUSHLSHEET TRACKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application filed October 20, 1911. Serial No. 655,701.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS H. MAmn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, borough of the Bronx, in the county of New York and- State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Music- Sheet Trackers, of which the following is a specification. i

The object of my invention is to provide improved means to cause music sheets in automatic musical instruments to properly pass over the orifices of the tracker board to the end that the openings in the music sheet shall properly register with the orifices of the trackerboard.

In carrying out my invention I provide a openings in the tra'ckerboard adjacent any desired number of orifices of the trackerboard, one of such openings for each of such desired orifices being in communication with a pneumatic mechanism and the companion opening being in conmunication with another pneumatic mechanism, which pneumatic mechanisms are connected with means for operating the music spool or tracker for moving the same back and forth as required to cause the openings in-the music sheet to properly register with the orifices of the tracker board, the arrangement being such that when one or more openings in the music sheet properly register with one or more orifices of the ti'ackerbo'ard, the music spool will be retained in proper tracking position.

My invention further comprises novel details of improvement and combinations of fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompany- 'ing drawings forming part hereof, wherein,

Figure 1 is a partly sectional face view of music sheetmechanism embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged face view'of a portion of the trackerboard; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3, 3, in Fig. 2; Fig. 1 is a section on the line 4, 4, in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5, 5, in Fig. 3, partly broken away; Fig. 6 is a partly sectional view of a modified form of pneumatic mechanism; and Fig. 7 is a partly sectional view illustrating a movable tracker.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The trackerboard 1 may be mounted in a frame 2 in any well known manner. which tracker has usual note orifices 1. The music spool 3 carrying the music sheet 4 is mounted in frame 2 in any well known manner, to have longitudinal adjustment. I have shown a slidable spindle 5 pressed by a spring 6 into engagement with one end of spool 3, and at 7 is a slidable spindle engaging the opposite end of spool 3. At 8 is an eccentric shown pivotally supported upon frame 2, as at 9, and provided with an arm 10 to be operated by suitable means, such as opposing pneumatics 11, 12. For this vpurpose nected by a rod 13 with a lever 14 pivoted upon frame 2 at 15 and connected by a link 16 to the movable board of pneumatic 11, rod 17 connecting the movable boards of both pneumatics, whereby when one of the movable boards of one pneumatic or the other is collapsed eccentric 8 will be turned to cause spool3 to be moved to the right or left as the case may be, by the coaction of spring 6 throu trio. At 18 is t e takeup spool for the music sheet 4, which spool is shown mounted upon spindle 19 journaled upon frame 2, and which may be rotated in any well known manner. The parts so far described illustrate suitable means for adjusting spool 3 lengthwise, but it will be understood that other well known means for this purpose may be used, if desired.

Adjacent one or more of the orifices 1 of the tracker are pairs of openings a, b, suitably formed in the tracker, which openings a communicate with a channel 0 in the tracker, and the openings 6 communicate with a channel d in the tracker. The pairs of openings at, b, are so located. with respect to their corresponding tracker note orifices that the openings or apertures 4 of music sheet 4 will, when the music sheet properly tracks across the trackerboard orifices 1 to fully open the latter, also fully open the corresponding pairs of openings a, 1), yet if the music sheet should shift or swerve from one side or the other with respect to the tracker orifices 1, and thereby close one or more openings a or b, then the music spool Will be caused to shift to the right or left to shift the normal position, or the tracker will be correspondingly shifted for a similar purpose. To this end the channel a is connected by a the pouch or pocket 21 tube or pipe 20 with I the channel d is like of pneumatic ll, and

I have shown an arm 10 con-' music sheet to the proper wise connected by tube or pipe 22 with the pouch or pocket 23 of pneumatic 12. Suetion for the pneumatics is provided by the pipe 24 connected with any well known exhaust apparatus. Channels 0, d, may be formed in the trackerboard by milling the same with a suitable cutter, the outer portions of the channels being closed by strips 0, 03, respectively.

In Fig. 1, when atmospheric pressureenters pouch 21 through pipe 20, valve 21 will be lifted allowing atmosphere to pass under the valve, thence through pipe 2l and under the pouch 21, raising valve 21 thereby opening communication between the pneumatic and pipe 24; and a similar action takes place with respect to the pouches, valves, etc., of pneumatic .12 when atmosphere is admitted to pipe 22.

In Fig. 6, when atmosphere enters pouch 21 through pipe 20, 'valve 21 rises, permitting suction through pipe 21 to cause pouch 21 to be drawn down allowing valve 21 to close the suction from pneumatic 11 and permit atmosphere to enter the same through opening 00; and similar action takes place with respect to the valves and pouches of pneumatic 12. Thus, to that of Fig. 1, viz: when a pair of openings a, b, are open to atmosphere, neither pneumatic 11 or 12 Will then have suction, but both will bQ-OPBDQd to atmosphere.

In the normal positions of the parts according to Figs. 1 to 5, when the music sheet properly tracks across the tracker, so that one or more of its openings 4* registers with one or more of the orifices 1", and with the companion openings (1 and b, as the case may be, pneumatics 11,12 will'both be under exhaust and thereupon music spool 3 will be maintained in the proper position. If, however, the music sheet shifts or swerves, as to the right, so as to cover one or more of the openings a, (and leave open the corresponding opening I) and part of orifice 1 and thus stop the flow of air from such opening a to the pouch 21 of pneumatic 11; thereby cutting off exhaust from pneumatic 11, the exhaust then present in pneumatic 12 causes its movable board to collapse and push rod 17 to the right in Fig. 1,'t hereby drawing rod 13 to the left and causing eccentric 8 to push spindle 7 and thereby spool 3 to the left, and thus shift the music sheet tothe left to cause the aforesaid opening a to open to atmosphere through the corresponding note opening 4 in the music sheet;

whereupon 130th. openings (1 and b and the will thereupon be" corresponding orifices 1 properly opened and the music sheet W111 be retained in such set position, by the neutral action of exhaust in both pneumaticis, and the music sheet will continue to properly track until again shifted or swerved to the right or left, and so on. 'Likewise,.if the 1 thereby cu ting off exhaust I sponding note openng 1 the action is opposite forth.

music sheet should have shifted or swerved to the left, in Fig. 1, so as to cover one or more of the openings 11 (leaving open the corresponding opening a and part of orifice 1) and thus stop the flow of air from such opening 6 to the pouch :23

from pneun \tic 12, the exhaust then present in pneumatic 11 causes its movable board to move to the of pneumatic 12,.

left in Fig. 1; said movable board then'pulls' upon link 16 and shifts rod 13 to the right,- causing eccentric 8 to move-in such manner that spool 3 will, by spring 6,. be shifted to the right until the corresponding opening I is opened to the'atmosphere by the correin the music sheet; the corresponding orifice 1" and companion openings a, b, are thus again opened toatinosphcre the neutral ac tion of the exhaust in both pneumatics maintains the parts in such position and the music sheet will continue to properly track until again shifted 'or swerved to the right or left, whereupon similar place, and so on.

IVhile it will be understood that pairs of openings a, b, may be plact d adjacent each tracker orifice 1, yet such pairs of openings may be located adjacent a y desired orifice 1*, as, for instance, adjacer the tracker or fices 1 that are determined to be ,more f'b4 quently used than others.

Instead of shifting the music spool 3 foithe purposes above set forth, I have shown means whereby the tracker-board l nay be shifted to the right or left for the same purpose. To this end the tracker may be mounted for endwise adi'ustment and con nected with the pneumat ics 11, 12, as ill strated in Fig. 7. provided with supports 1 slid able in frame 2 and connected by a link 25 with lever 11, operated by pneumatics l1. 1.2.in1nanner before described. The pairs-of openings a, Z), for the desired tracker orifices 1 are connected with and thereupon 'as the pneumatics hen the music sheet is properly tracking and the tracker is in the normal position,- then opening I in the music sheet will uncover-an orifice 1 and its companion openings 0;, b, and both pneumatics will thenbe under exhaust and will maintain the tracker in such 'set normal position. If, however, the music sheet shifts or swerves, as to the right, so as to coverone or more openings wand thus stop the flow ofair fromv such opening to the pouch '21 of 'pneumatic 11, therebycutting off suction from pneumatic 11. the. suction in pneumatic 12 will push rod '17 to the right and through lever 14 and link 25 the tracker will be shifted to theright, thereby'causing such opening a to be uncovered and opened to atmosphere through the opening i of the music sheet, and thereupon the trackr lli actions will take.

I have shown tracker 1' as before s'et be maintained in such position by the balancing of suction in the pneumatics 11, 12; likewise, if the music sheet should have shifted or swerved to the left in Fig. 7 an opening I) would be closed and the companion opening aleft open, whereupon suction will be discontinued from pneumatic 12 and the exhaust in pneumatic 11 will cause lever 14 to be shifted to the left, thereupon shifting the tracker to the left and uncovering such opening I), as well as the companion 0 ening a, and thereupon the balancing 0 exhaust in the pneumatics 11, 12 will cause the tracker to be maintained in such position.

In both cases described, when all of the orifices 1 and all of the openings a, b, are

closed by the music sheet the position of the music sheet or tracker, as set by reason of the action of the pneumatics caused by the tracking of the music sheet with respect to the last opening 4* of the music sheet that coacted with an orifice 1*, will be maintained until another shift of the music spool or the tracker takes place.

Having now described my I claim is:

'1. A tracker having note orificesand provided with a pair of openings adjacent one of the tracker orifices and located between the transverse extremes of the latter and between the latter and the longitudinal edge of the tracker, said being in the path of note openings in a traveling its normal operating position, combined with a pair of pneumatics, controlling means for each pneumatic, means connecting one of said openings with the controlling means of one of said pneumatics, and means connecting the other of said openings with the controlling means of the other of said pneumatics, whereby said pneumatics will be operated according to the passage of air through the corresponding opening, track ing controlling mechanism, and means controlled by said pneumatics for operating said mechanism.

2. A tracker having note orifices and separate channels and provided with pairs of openings each pair adjacent a corresponding orifice and located between the transverse extremes of the latter and between the latter and the longitudinal edge of the tracker, one of the openings adjacent to each orifice communicating with one of the channels, and the other opening adjacent to each orifice communicating with the other channel, said orifices and openings being in the path of note openings in a traveling music sheet when the latter is in its normal operating position. I

3. The combination of a tracker adapted to beused with a perforated note sheet, Said tracker having an orifice and a pair of openinvention what orifices and openings music sheet when the latter is in" ings adjacent the same and located between the transverse extremes of the latter in' the path 10f note perforations in the music sheet,

to atmosphere and the other is closed to atmosphere.

4. The combination of a tracker. adapted to be used with a perforated music sheet, said tracker having orifices and a pair of openings adjacent one of said orifices and located between the transverse extremes of the latter, and means for maintaining registration of the perforations in the music sheet with the orifices of the tracker when said openings register with perforations in the music sheet.

5. The combination of a tracker adapted to be used with a perforated music sheet,

a music spool, said tracker having orifices and a pair of openings adjacent one of said orifices and located between the transverse extremes of the latter, in the path of note perforations in the music sheet, mechanism adapted to shift one of the first two named elements relatively one to another, and means to control the action of said mechanism by air passing through said openings from a perforation in the music sheet, said mechanism serving to shift one of the first named elements when air passes through one of said openings and is prevented by music sheet from passing through the other of said openings.

6. The combination of a tracker adapted to be used with a perforated music. sheet, said tracker being provided with note orifices and having a pair of openings adjacent path of note perforations in the music sheet,-

and mechanism controlled by air passing through said openings and operatively connected with the music spool for maintaining the music spool in normal position when both of said openings are open or closed by the music sheet and for shifting the spool when one of the openings is closed and the other is open to atmosphere through the music sheet.

8. The ccmbinati a tracker, a

the

in the music sheet to and having orifices and a 9. The combination of a tracker, a longitudinally adj ustable music spool, said tracker having orifices, and pairsof openings re spectively ad acent several of said orifices and located between the transverse extremes of the latter and in the path of'note perforations in the music sheet, said tracker also having a plurality of channels, one of said channels being in communication with one opening of each pair'of said openings and theother channel in communication With'the other of said openings, pneumatics having valve devices respectively connected with said channels, and means operated by said pneumatics for shifting the music spool when one of said openings is closed by the music sheet.

10. A tracker bar for playing attachments for musical instruments making'use of a perforated music sheet, said tracker bar being provided with the usual ducts for register with the note slots of a music sheet and said tracker bar being also provided, within the space bounded by two planes passing through the side edges, of a tracker duct with two additional openings both located adjacent to one of the end edges of said tracker duct. which end edge extends in the direction of the length of the tracker and said additional openings being in alinenient longitudinally of the tracker, substantially as set forth.

11. A tracker bar for playing attachments for musical instruments making use of a per forated music sheet, said tracker bar being provided with the usual ducts for register with the note slots of a music sheet and being also provided with two supplemental openings both pertaining to one and thesame music duct in the tracker, said openings being of less dimensions in the direction of the length of the tracker than the music duct to which said openings pertain,

and said openings being in alinement in the direction of the length of the tracker, sub

stantially as set forth. I

12. The coml nation of a music sheet con.-

taining perforations, with mechanism comprising apertures with which said perforations are adapted to register for the purpose of producing musical sounds and apertures coacting with said perforations whereby said sheet is automatically adjusted to eti'ect registration of said perforations with said apertures first named, said second named apertures being in communication with said perforations in the normal position of said sheet.

13. The combination of a tracker bar C011- ta'ining a set of apertures for effecting the production of musical sounds, said tracker bar containing channels having respective sets of apertures coordinated with said apertures first named, a music sheet having perforations coordinated with said sets of apertures respectively, and pneumatic mechanism having connections with said sheet and channels whereby said perforations are maintained in registration with said apertures first named.

14. The combination of a music sheet containing perforations, with mechanism comprising apertures with which said perforations are adapted to register for the purpose of producing musical sounds, means comprising pneumatically operated devices for shifting said sheet laterally, a suction duct, valve mechanism for controlling communication between said suction duct and pneumatic devices, diaphragms for operating said valve mechanisms, and passages for communicating air pressure communicated through said perforations to said diaphragms.

15. The combination of a music sheet containing perforations with mechanism comprising apertures with which said perforations are adapted to register for the purpose of producing musical sounds, means comprising pneumatic devices for shifting said sheet laterally, a chamber adapted for communication with said pneumatic devices. valve mechanism for controlling said communication, a suction duct connected with said chamber, means comprising chambers connected with said suction duct, passages whereby air pressure communicated through said perforations is conveyed to said chambers second named, and diaphragms between said chamber first named and said chambers second named for controlling said valve mechanism.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and, State of New York, this 18th. day of October, A. D. 1911.

LOUIS H. MAIER. \Vitnesses MARIE F. VVAINWRIGHT, T. F. BOURNEi 

